Categories: Travel

Why Barrier Lake in Kananaskis is an ideal summer day-trip destination

Photo via Haley Truong/Unsplash

The summer forecast is showing a scorcher for Calgary and surrounding areas, which means you’ll want to plan lake days whenever possible. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of natural and manmade lakes in the Kananaskis area, which means you don’t have to travel too terribly far for a day on the water.

Barrier Lake is one such location. Smack-dab in Bow Valley Provincial Park, Barrier Lake is a stunning manmade creation run by a hydroelectric dam on its north side. Because Highway 40 runs between the eastern side of the lake and Mount Baldy, it’s super easy to get to, and on-site park, day-use areas, and a boat launch take the stress out of planning logistics.

The smooth waters are an ideal destination for canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. A massive sandy shoreline is ideal for setting up camp, and the view of the surrounding mountains feels like a little slice of heaven.

If a good hike is your siren song, the Barrier Lake Interpretive is a short, yet challenging trail with excellent views of the northern and southern sections of the lake. The route is 2.5 kilometres one way from the lower parking area at Barrier Lake Day Use and reaches an elevation of 100 metres. And, if you’re not up for the full challenge, you can shorten the hike by parking in the upper lot and starting from there.

Because Barrier Lake is a fairly popular destination, your best bet is to arrive earlier in the day to enjoy a bit of serenity before peak times in the late afternoon.

Pack a picnic and load the boats — a fantastic day under the sun awaits you at beautiful Barrier Lake. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!